Rail shift mechanism for line casting and composing machines



L. M. WALDEN RAIL SHIFT MECHANISM FOR L INE CASTING AND COMPOSING MACHINES" Feb. 4, 1936.

Filed Oct. 27, 1933 LESTER INVENTOR M WflL 05 N ATTOR Patented Feb. 4, 1936 UNITED vSTES PATENT OFFICE RAIL SHIFT MECHANISM FOR LINE CAST- ING AND COMPOSING MACHINES Lester M. Walden, Chicago, 111., assignor to Teletype Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware The present improvement relates to linecasting and composing machines and more particularly to an automatic mechanism for operating such machines under the control of stored signals.

In its preferred embodiment, as herein disclosed, the improvement is adapted particularly to a control unit mechanism such as is completely described and illustrated in copending application Ser. No. 584,387, filed January 2, 1932, to which reference should be had for a full and comprehensive disclosure of the general constructionof control units of this class.

In the control of linecasting and composing machines, which consists of selectively releasing the matrices or matrix elements, a comparatively high rate of operating speed may be attained ing, matrices shorter distances in which to travel from their point of release to that of the assembly as compared with the distances to be travelled by faster falling matrices so as to equalize the traveling time for all matrices, yet the time thus consumed by each matrix in gravitating to the assembling level is considerably in excess of the time required for performing the automatic selective release thereof.

As a result of these characteristics, consecutive matrix release signals and the functions resulting therefrom may be executed automatically at comparatively high operating speeds, because, as explained, the several classes of matrices may be suitably arranged in their channels so that each matrix may consume the same or nearly the same amount of time in arriving at a common destination, the point of assembly. In the case of certain other functions, however, the performance of which must await the full and complete reception into the assembling block of the preceding matrices, a proportional prolongation of the interim between the sensing of the function selecting signal and the completion of its performance as compared with the interim between the "sensing of a matrix selecting signal and its functional response, must be introduced.

One such special function is the rail shift operation in the assembling block, which is described in the copending application referred to above. The rail located in the assembling block, which may by its presentment or withdrawal from the ingress passage thereof, determine one of two receivable conditions for subsequently selected matrices, may be of any of several wellknown general constructions. In the following description, a longitudinally shiftable rail has been selected to exemplify the present invention.

While this retarded operation mechanism is being illustrated and described in connection with the rail shifting operation, this is by way of example only; the principles underlying the present invention having equally important and practical application to other collateral functions in association with similar or kindred mechanisms.

Accordingly the present invention has for its object the provision of a retarded action mechanism that may be applied to a control mechanism, driven by a more rapidly operating mover and initiated into alternative conditions of operation by each of a pair of selectable elements.

The application of the present invention contemplates the provision of an operating shaft that may be continuously moving and whose speed of performance is more nearly related to the higher speed which may prevail during the execution of the major functions of the composing mechanism. This shaft is provided with a helical section or spiral, a portion of which is inclined in one direction and an opposite and symmetrical portion of which is inclined in the other direction. The threaded section is straddled by a yoke or saddle member having oppositely and inwardly pressed lugs that are adapted to engage the corresponding threaded sections described, each to each. The saddle member is capable of slight transverse motion with respect to the shaft, so that either of its lugs may be made to engage the threads of its associated helical section, so that with the shaft rotating constantly in one direction, longitudinal motion is imparted to the saddle in a derivative direction corresponding to the particular lug and thread engagement. The saddle member is supported for limited longitudinal movement and by suitable mechanical linkage is connected to the operating arm of the shiftable rail referred to above, so that its longitudinal movement with respect to the driving shaft is imparted to the shiftable rail.

The transverse motion whereby the saddle member is made to engage with one or the other of its lugs its associated threaded section of the driving shaft is received through the reciprocation of its supporting bracket, which is moved by a lever having pivotal connection with each of two selectable bars. The bars are of the class described in the copending application referred to above and are adapted to be individually selected in response to predetermined signals. Upon the selection of either bar, longitudinal motion is imparted thereto which through its pivotal connection with an operating lever is communicated to other means to elfect the transverse shifting of the saddle member.

For a more comprehensive understanding of this invention, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing, taken in connection with the following description wherein like reference characters indicate similar parts throughout. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a linecasting machine assembling block and a portion of the automatic control unit in section with intervening parts broken away to simplify the disclosure;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken approximately on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan sectional view taken approximately on line 3,3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the saddle member referred to above.

In its preferred embodiment, the present invention is shown as applied to a shiftable rail ll capable of assuming two positions within the assembling block [2. In its left-hand position, as illustrated in Fig. 1, a small clearance I3 is afforded near the ingress portion of the block 12 whereby incoming matrices being unsupported are permitted to descend to a lower level, as indicated by the foremost matrices M of Fig. 2.

'When in its alternative position, rail H is presented within the space 13 so that matrices received thereafter will be supported by the rail and will assume a position as illustrated by the rearmost assembled matrices l5. Depending on which of these alternative positions each matrix is supported, it accordingly presents one or the other of two matrix impressions or intaglio carrier thereby to the level which registers opposite the casting mold when, in the course of subsequentoperations, the assembled line of matrices is transported to the slug casting mechanism.

The two intaglios carried by each matrix are customarily of the same alphabetical or numerical character, but of a different font or type class. Among the more common classes of the two types of intaglios. are the bold face which is presented by the matrices in the position indicated I15, and V the Roman face which is presented by the matrices. in the position indicated M. Hence, for convenience in the course of the following description, the upper position of a received matrix and the corresponding relation of any of the shiftable associate mechanism will be referred to as the bold position, while the opposite condition of any of the aforesaid elements will be referred to as the Roman position.

The rail l I is slidably supported within the slot IS in the assembling block and is moved intoeach of its positions through the agency of a bell crank ll pivoted at 8 and connected to the rail at l9 and to a connecting link 22 at 2|. The opposite end of link 22 is pivotally jointed to one arm 23 of a bell crank 24 which is mounted on a stud shaft 25. Another arm 26 of bell crank 24 is slotted at its end as at 21 and is adapted thereat to engage a stub pin 28 which is secured to an upstanding member 29 of a saddle 3 I. The saddle 3!, its stub pin 23, and its upstanding member 29 form an integral assembly including, in addition, a pair of symmetrically and oppositively disposed lugs 32 which project inwardly, as best indicated in Figs. 2 and 4.

A constantly rotating shaft 33, extending sidewardly through the frame 34 which in the accompanying drawing represents the supporting struc ture of the principal portion of the control unit, may be any continuously operated shaft such as, for example, the shaft 4'! illustrated in the co-' pending application referred to above. The end: of shaft 33, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, carries a bushing upon whose periphery is formed a pair of oppositely inclined threaded portions or helices 35 and 3B. The transverse distance between the opposite lugs 32 is such that as one of them engages the threads of its associated helix 35 or 35, the other of them just clears the threads of its associated helix, as best indicated in Fig. 2. During the rotation of shaft 33, after one of the projections 32 is presented within the threads of its helix, the entire saddle 3i and its assembly are moved longitudinally thereby in a direction depending upon the inclination of the helix. This movement continues until the projection 32 is drawn beyond the extremity of the threads of its associate helix, at which time the opposite projection 32, when selected, engages the rearmost portions of its associate helix, which thereupon moves the assembly 3! in the opposite direction until its limit is reached.

The saddle 3| and its assembly are supported for longitudinal as well as slight transverse movement within a slot 31, Fig. 3, of a bracket 38 which is in turn supported for horizontal and parallel movement upon a shouldered pin 39, Fig. 1. An extremity 4! of bracket 38, having provided therein an elongated slot 42, Fig. 2, permits of the horizontal movement of bracket 38 when actuated by the oscillation of a lever 43.

The lever 33 is pivotally supported upon a boss 44 formed in the frame 34 and is bifurcated at its upper extremity as at 45. Between the tines of fork 45 there is presented the extremity of a lever 45 pivotally mounted at points 41 and 48 upon each of a pair of selectable bars 49 and 5!. The bars 49 and 5| comprise two of a plurality of similar bars such as the bars 35, illustrated in the above referred to copending application, and upon their selection are moved from a normal position, as illustrated by bar 49 in Fig. 3, to a selected position as illustrated by bar 5|. Each of these bars 49 and 5| may be thus selectively moved in. response to a received signal individual thereto. After any ofthe bars such as bars 49 and 5| are selectively operated it is then withdrawn by the periodic intervention of a transverse bail 5!] which returns all of the bars after a predeterminedinterval ineach operative cycle. When, as in the illustration Fig.3, and in response to a Roman shift signal bar 5| is selectively moved forward, the point 41 of bar" 49 becomes the fixed pivotal point about which lever 43 turns, acting thereby as a first-class lever and causing its extremity to engage the lower tine of the fork G5, moving lever 43 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2, and causing the projection 32 which is associated with worm-36 to be presented thereinto. But when, on the other hand, a bold shift signal is received with bar 5! in its normal position, bar 49 is selectively moved forward, and point 48 of bar 5! becomes the pivot for lever 46 which then moves in an opposite direction acting as a third-class lever.v In'bold shift operation, lever' 46 engages the upper tine of fork 45, Fig. 3, moving lever 43 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, and causing the movement of saddle 3| to be reversed so as to presentits opposite lug 32 within the threads of worm section 35. The direction of longitudinal movement of saddle 3| depends, as explained-above, upon which of the two lugs 32 engages its associated worm section 35 or 36. Following-the selection of bar 5|, as a result of which worm section 36' is engaged, saddle 3| moves to its right-hand extermity, as illustrated in Fig. 1, causing the rail I through the linkage 24, 22 and l! to be presented in its Roman position; that'is, where; the space |3 is unoccupied so as to permit subsequently received matrices to descend to the level represented by the matrix M. When bar 49 is selected, resulting in worm section 35 being engaged by its lug 32, saddle 3| advances in an opposite direction or to its lefthand position, where, through the same linkage 24, 22, and H, rail II is presented in its bold position, occupying the space I3 and preventing subsequently received matrices from descending to the lower orRoman position, but being instead, continuously supported in the upper or bold position, as indicated by the-matrices l5.

It will'be noticed that the movement of saddle 3| under the actuation of worms 35 and 36 is con siderably reduced in speed by the inherent characteristics of the worm actuators 35 and 36. Thus, the resultant movement of rail I is effectuated-in 'a much slower or retarded movement as compared with the pace of the piincipal'selecting functions represented" by'the speed of shaft 33. As a result of this retardation in the response of rail"'|| to the bold and Roman shift signals for shifting it in one direction or the other, a certain time interval is permitted during which previously released matrices which are intended to be received with the rail II in a given position may have time to descend, settle, and be properly received, whereas, otherwise with the rail I responding naturally orat the prevailing pace to the selection of its bar 49 or 5|, its movement would more than likely precede the reception of the last one or two matrices which are intended to be received in a previous condition thereof, causing them instead to be received in the changed position of rail H. In the case of exceptionally wide matrices which precede rail shift signals it has been found advantageous to introduce blank signals before the rail shift signal -to augment the prolongation of the rail shift operation so as to afford a delay even in the initial signal transfer and before the rail has had any opportunity to move. The presence of blank signals in the control form, as may be ascertained from the application referred to, results in a mere idle operation of the control unit mechanism, no matrices being released nor other functions executed during their occurrence, thereby allowing sufiicient time for other functions to be performed.

An alternative arrangement for suspending the performance of the control unit is illustrated in the copending application. In accordance with that disclosure the record reader mechanism is ,arrested while the retarded operating mechanism is performing. A structure of this kind may be incorporated with the present invention if preferred in favor of providing additional blank perforation in the control form.

Though this invention has been explained and described in connection with retardingthe response of the bold and Roman rail shift operations, it should be understood that other special functions of a principal selecting machine may similarlybe controlled and it should therefore be understood to have general application, though described in connection with a particular ex ample.

Because numerous changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention, it is intended not to be limited to the specific language of the foregoing description nor to the details of the accompanying drawing, but to be permitted, in-,

stead, a latitude of construction as indicated by the hereunto appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a line composing machine, the combina tion of a matrix assembling block, a rail shiftable into alternative positions for modifying the reception of selectively released matrices within said block, means for shifting said rail, and a retarded motion mechanism for deferring the response of said rail including a duplex driving mechanism for initiating motion in two directions at a reduced speed, means for actuating said mechanism at a derived speed, and a linkage movable in two directions by alternative portions of said mechanism for accordingly imparting selective responses to said rail at said reduced speed.

2. In a line composing machine, an assembling rail, means for moving said rail into two positions including a saddle member, a pair of helical actuators, means under the control of certain signals for moving said saddle member into engagement with one of said helical actuators, means under control of other signals for moving said saddle member into engagement with the other of said helical actuators, and means for impelling said actuators at a given speed for imparting motion through said helical actuators at a reduced speed.

3. In a line composing machine, a shiftable rail, a signal controlled mechanism responsive to each of a pair of signals for shifting said rail into corresponding alternative positions, and means for delaying the responsive movement of said rail to said mechanism including a pair of worm actuators, and means for associating said actuators selectively with said rail in accordance with corresponding control signals.

4. In a line composing machine, a shiftable assembler rail, a mechanism responsive to signal control for shifting said rail into each of alternative positions including a pair of selectable bars, a power take-cfi means, an operating train for said shifting mechanism communicating with said power take-off means including a pair of worm actuators driven by said power take-ofi means having oppositely inclined helices, a mechanical train connecting said rail with said actuators, and means under the control of said selectable bars for associating said train with corresponding ones of said actuators under the control of predetermined signals.

5. In a line composing machine, a shiftable assembler rail, a pair of alternatively effective driving worms, a power take-ofi means for actuating said worms, a motion receiving element capable of being brought into operative relation with each of said worms individually, and means for shifting said element including a supporting member, a lever for shifting said member, a pair of signal responsive selectable bars, and means 4 aoza'eoo for pivotally securing said lever to each of said bars-so that through the selective motion of each and theipi'votal cooperation of the other said shiftable element is brought. into enga ement with the corresponding ones of. said worms.

6. .In a. mechanism for automatically controlling .a. series of selectable functions'certain. of which are to be executed at a given speed.- and certain. others'of which are to be executed at a J reduced speed,, the combinatiqnwith the driving meansshaving a given speed for performingfiere tainof .saidiunctions, of means; having a reduced speed for performing the other of said functions. including a pair of oppositely inclined 3 worm actuators, a pair of selectable elements,

a'linkage associated with mechanism to he operated with retarded response, means under the control of one of said elements for associating said linkage with one of said worms, and means under the control of the other of-saidelements ed for two-directional movement, and means ,as-' sociated. with said actuator for engaging each of said worms individually.

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